The ban was meted out on Wednesday for Henry's December tirade at referee Graham Poll in the league defeat by Newcastle.

Arsenal sustained their Barclaycard Premiership challenge with a 2-0 victory in Henry's absence on Tyneside last weekend.

Henry, who has scored 28 times this season, missed that St James's Park encounter with a groin injury.

He returned for the 1-0 success over Derby in midweek but uncharacteristically missed two glorious chances.

Now, the France international is set to miss two further league encounters against Aston Villa and West Ham, or the first fixture and the cup replay against Bobby Robson's side should one be necessary.

Had the club appealed, he would have been available until his case was reconsidered - and then if unsuccessful sat out three later matches.

"I wanted to get it out of the way and I was a little bit concerned that it would play on his mind," said Wenger.

"It could affect his performance or presence in the last period of the season.

"I spoke to Thierry about it and he agreed with me," said Arsenal boss Wenger.

"We are strong enough as a team to get over his absence."

Wenger could be faced with the loss of Patrick Vieira when the midfielder goes before a disciplinary hearing for an alleged elbow on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Boxing Day.

"I was sure Thierry would get nothing but he got three games so if I say Patrick will get three games hopefully he will get nothing," he said.

The 2-0 triumph last weekend holds Arsenal, who will also be without Ray Parlour and Oleg Luzhny today, in good stead, according to Wenger.

"I believe it gives us a psychological advantage," he sad. And the commitment and attitude is so strong in our squad that we believe we will do it again."

Wenger recently claimed his team could better their 1998-99 double-winning season with league, FA Cup and Champions League glory this year.

Those ambitions will be tested both today and on Tuesday, when Deportivo La Coruña arrive at Highbury, a match Wenger hopes will witness the quick return of Parlour from a training ground injury to his ankle.